Tube holder



Patented Sept. 14, 1948 TUBE HOLDER Alfred B. Benziger, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 22, 1946, Serial No. 692,277

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a holder readily attachable to the shelf of a medicine cabinet for removably holding tubes of tooth paste, shaving cream and the like.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a tube holder adapted to be attached to a shelf and operate below the shelf so as not to interfere with the use of the shelf; to create a tube holder for firmly holding tubes in position and yet permitting their easy reception and removal; to provide a tube holder that is operable only when the caps of the tubes are in position, thereby insuring the closing of the tubes and protecting the contents thereof; to supply a tube holder for holding tubes safe from being smashed by contact; to create a tube holder readily attachable and detachable from any normal shelf.

My invention also contemplates such other objects, advantages and cap-abilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, yet it is understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my tube holder; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view; Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an end elevational view; Fig. 6 is a detailed view showing my device in use and Fig. '7 is a perspective view showing my device attached to a glass shelf.

The embodiment selected to illustrate my invention comprises a body member ID, preferably of metal, having a wide thin plate portion 1 I, with a straight rear edge l2, and a horizontally extending reenforcing rib l3 adjacent thereto and substantially coextensive therewith. Extending inwardly from the front I4 of the plate portion H are a plurality of spaced cut out portions l5. Opposite side walls IE on each side of cut out portions l5 extend diagonally inwardly to meet inwardly curved back wall [1 adjacent rib l3.

Body member ID at each end of plate portion ll extends integrally and vertically at right angles to form upright portions l8 and then outwardly at right angles to form end flanges I9. Said end flanges l9 each have a screw threaded opening 20.

A pair of U-shaped clamping members 2! are provided, with each member 2! having a screw threaded opening 22 in its bottom leg 23. The clamping members 2| are positioned with their bottom legs against the undersurfaces of the end flanges l9, so that openings 20 and 22 are in line, their closed ends 24 are adjacent the front of body member I 0 and their open ends 25 are at the rear of body member H].

A thumb screw 26 having a head 21 and a screw threaded shank 28 is provided for each associated clamping member 2! and end flange [9, for operating in openings 20 and 22, for remova'bly attaching the clamping members 2| to the end flanges l9.

In use, my device assembled as heretofore described is attached to the shelf 29 of a medicine cabinet by sliding same under the shelf, so that the undersurfaces of the top legs 30 of the clamping members 2| rest upon the top surface of the shelf 29. Thumb screws 26 are tightened against the undersurface of the shelf 29. My device is easily attachable and readily detachable from the shelf.

A user places a tube 3| of tooth paste, shaving cream or the like, having its cap 32 on the tube, within one of the cut out portions [5 and moves it rearwardly until converging side walls l6 are against the neck 33 of the tube and under the bottom flange 34 of the cap 32 of tube 3 I, as shown in Fig. 6. The walls l6 being of very thin material, preferably metal, tend to bite into the soft neck 33 of the tube 3| and hold it firmly in position, so that there is no swaying of the tube out of place. The tube is readily removable from my device. 3

Because of the converging side walls l6, different sizes of tubes may be accommodated. While I prefer metal for my device, yet it may be made of plastic, wood or any other suitable material.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A tube holder comprising a thin hard plate, a pair of integral opposite raised end portions, a pair of U-shaped clamping members having upper and lower legs, with their upper legs contacting said end portions, said upper legs adapted to contact the upper surface of a shelf so as to position said plate below said shelf, and a pair of tightening members extending through said end portions and said U-shaped members and contacting the under surface of the shelf for removably attach ing the tube holder to the shelf, said thin hard plate having a plurality of spaced out out portions beginning at the front of the plate, each of said out out portions defined by diagonally inwardly extending opposite side walls, with the widest part of each cut out portion in front, graduated to the narrowest part in back, each of said out out portions adapted to permit the entry and withdrawal of a tube formed of softer material than said plate UNITED STATES PATENTS and having a cap, said opposite side walls of each out out portion adapted to contact said. tube be- Number N D te 10w its cap and to bite into the soft material of 1,947,825 Brooks Feb. 20, 1934 the tube for removably holding the same in rigid 6 1,998,944 Spake Apr. 23, 1935 position. 2,336,315 Thomas Dec. 7, 1943 ALFRED BENZIGER- 2,225,329 Barnes Dec. 1'7, 1940 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 file of this patent: 

